Wolfe opened his eyes and aimed them at Dinky. Im not going to wait until Monday, he said. If I havent enough now, I never will have. One thing you have told me, or at least implied, will have to be my peg. If I asked you about it now, you would only wriggle out with lies, so I wont bother. The time has come to attack the central question: if someone had decided to kill Faith Usher, how did he manage it? He turned. Archie, get Mr Cramer.
No! Byne was on his feet. Damn you, after Ive spilled
I had lifted the receiver, but Byne was there, jostling and reaching. Wolfes voice, with a snap, turned him. Mr Byne! Dont squeal until youre hurt. Ive got you and I intend to keep you. Must I call Mr Panzer in?
He didnt have to. Dinky backed away a step, giving me elbow room to dial, but close enough, he thought, to pounce. Getting Inspector Cramer at twenty minutes past ten on a Saturday evening can be anything from quick and simple to practically impossible. That time I had luck. He was at Homicide on Twentieth Street , and after a short wait I had him, and Wolfe got on, and Cramer greeted him with a growl, and Wolfe said he would need three minutes.
Ill take all I can stand, Cramer said. What is it?
About Faith Usher. I am being pestered beyond endurance. Take yesterday. In the morning those four men insisted on seeing me. In the afternoon you barged in. In the evening Mr Goodwin and I were interrupted by a phone call summoning him to Mrs Robilottis house, and when he goes he finds Mr Skinner there, and he
Do you mean the Commissioner?
Yes. He said it was unofficial and off the record, and made an offensive proposal which Mr Goodwin was to refer to me. I dont complain of that to you, since he is your superior and you presumably didnt know about it.
I didnt.
But it was another thorn for me, and I have had enough. I would like to put an end to it. All this hullabaloo has been caused by Mr Goodwins conviction, as an eye-witness, that Faith Usher did not kill herself, and I intend to satisfy myself on the point independently. If I decide he is wrong I will deal with him. If I decide he is right it will be because I will have uncovered evidence that may have escaped you. I notify you of my intention because in order to proceed I must see all of the people involved, I must invite them to my office, and I thought you should know about it. I thought you might choose to be present, and if so you will be welcome, but in that case you should get them here. I will not ask people to my office for a conference and then confront them with a police inspector. Tomorrow morning at eleven oclock would be a good time.
Cramer made a noise, something like Wmgzwmzg. Then he found words. So youve got your teeth in something. What?
Its other peoples teeth that are in something. In me. And Im annoyed. The situation is precisely as I have described it and I have nothing to add.
You wouldnt have. Tomorrow is Sunday.
Yes. Since three of them are girls with jobs that is just as well.
You want all of them?
Yes.
Are any of them with you now?
No.
Is Commissioner Skinner in this?
No.
Ill call you back in an hour.
That wont do, Wolfe objected. If I am to invite them I must start at once, and its late.
Not only that, but he knew darned well that if he gave him an hour Cramer would probably ring our bell in about ten minutes and want in. Anyway, it was a cinch that Cramer would buy it, and after a few more foolish questions he did.
We hung up, and Wolfe turned to Byne, who had returned to his chair. Now for you, he said, and Mrs Usher. I do not intend to let you communicate with anyone, and there is only one way to insure against it. She will spend the night here; there is a spare room with a good bed. It is a male household, but that shouldnt disconcert her. There is another room you may use, or, if you prefer, Mr Panzer will accompany you home and sleep there, and bring you here in the morning. Mr Cramer will have the others here at eleven oclock.
You can go to hell, Byne said. He stood up. Im taking Mrs Usher to her hotel.
Wolfe shook his head. I know your mind is in disorder, but surely you must see that that is out of the question. I cant possibly allow you an opportunity to repair any of the gaps I have made in your fences. If you scoot I shall move at once, and youll find you have no fences left at all. Only by my sufferance can you hope to get out of this mess without disfigurement, and you know it. Archie, bring Saul and Mrs Usherno. First ring Mr Bynes apartment and tell Orrie to come. Also tell him not to be disappointed at not finding the agreement; it isnt there. If he has found any items that seem significant he might as well bring them.
You goddamn snoop, Dinky said, merely repeating himself.
I turned to the phone.
Chapter 15
Furniture-moving wasnt all. Mrs Usher kept buzzing on the house phone from the South Room, for more coffee, for more towels, though she had a full supply, for a section she said was missing from the Sunday paper I had taken her, and for an additional list of items I had to get from the drugstore. Then at ten-fifteen here came Austin Byne, escorted by Saul, demanding a private audience with Wolfe immediately, and to get him off my neck I had Saul take him up the three flights to the vestibule of the plant rooms, where they found the door locked, and then Saul had to get physical with him when he wanted to open doors on the upper floors trying to find Mrs Usher.